Objective: To assess the magnitude and determinants of intimate partner violence before and during pregnancy and attitude regarding domestic violence among a cohort of recently delivered women in Karachi, Pakistan.
Methods: A total of 300 women occupying every alternate bed in the postnatal wards of a public tertiary hospital were administered a structured questionnaire.
Results: Forty four percent (44%) of women reported lifetime marital physical abuse, 23% during the index pregnancy. Among the 132 women who were ever physically abused, all reported verbal abuse and 36% sexual coercion. The statistically significant risk factors, wife's education, consanguinity, and duration of marriage, were similar for lifetime marital abuse and during pregnancy. Over half (55%) of the women believed that antenatal care clinics were a good time to enquire about domestic violence.
Conclusion: Annually an estimated one million pregnant Pakistani women are physically abused at least once during pregnancy. Reproductive health stakeholders should be encouraged to advocate for domestic violence screening.